Biography

Kenny Neal, born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, began playing music as a youngster. The son of Louisiana legend Raful Neal, he joined his father's band at age 13, and started playing bass with Buddy Guy at 17. He released his powerful debut album in 1987 to critical and public acclaim. Kenny Neal is known as an unparalleled American Bluesman, a modern swamp-blues singer and multi-instrumentalist who draws from the sizzling sounds of his native Louisiana. He is a multi-award winning talent (see below!) and a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. BLOODLINE is his fifteenth album, and earned him his second Grammy nomination.

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KENNY NEAL'S AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

2017 Blues Music Award Nominations:
Album - BLOODLINE
Contemporary Blues Album - BLOODLINE
Contemporary Blues Male Artist

2016 Grammy Nomination - BLOODLINE - Contemporary Blues

2016 Baton Rouge Blues Foundation — Red Stick Blues Award

2016 Pennsylvania Blues Festival — Lifetime Achievement Award

2015 Jus' Blues Awards — Bobby Rush Blues Entertainer Award

2013 Music Ambassador Award — Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne

2011 Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame

2011 Jus' Blues Music Foundation — Contemporary/Traditional Blues Song Of The Year "Hooked on Your Love"

2011 Critic's Poll Living Blues Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album of the Year.

2009 Monterey Bay Blues (M.O.B.B.A.Y.) Artist of the Year

2009 BMA (Blues Music Award) Winner for Song of the Year, "Let Life Flow"

2009 West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Awards for Blues CD of the Year "Let Life Flow" and "Blues Band of the Year"

2009 Blueswax Album of the Year "Let Life Flow"

2009 Grammy entries for Grammy Nominations in 4 catagories

Blues Critic Awards 2008 Readers Poll, Kenny won Blues Album of the Year "Let Life Flow" and also Contemporary Blues "Artist of the Year"

Jus' Blues Awards 2008 "Junior Wells Harp Award"

Hometown Video Awards 2008 Winner, Entertainment Talk Show "NEAL'S PLACE"

W.A.V.E. Award 2007, Talk Show-Entertainment/Pro, "NEAL'S PLACE"

2005 W.C. Handy Blues Awards "Acoustic Blues Album"

2005 Official Statement to Kenny Neal, by the Governor of LA.

2003 Slim Harpo Award in Baton Rouge

1999 Grammy Nomination for Tribute to Howlin' Wolf "Best Traditional Blues Album"

1994 Theatre World Award "Outstanding New Talent" on Broadway

1993 Washington, D.C., USIA Certificate of Appreciation for representing the U.S. with Kenny Neal's Blues Band for tour in Africa

1989 Big Bill Broonzy Award in Paris

1989 JD Miller Award "Outstanding Performance"